Collections of unwanted prescription drugs is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave.; the vacant parking lot at 10940 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito; and Fire Station 65 at 217 Arlington Ave. in Kensington.

The the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day events are free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The collections will accept expired cough syrups, vitamins, unused medications and empty inhalers, which should be kept in the original container with the labeling intact, but personal information blacked out.

Controlled substances will not be accepted and syringes and lancets will only be accepted at the Kensington Fire Station and only if they are in an approved sharps disposal container.

People who cannot attend the event should take expired medicines to the Oakland Household Hazardous Waste facility at 2100 East 7th St. in Oakland, which is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; or the West Contra Costa Household Hazardous Waste facility at 101 Pittsburg Ave. in Richmond.

Learn about special education resources

The West Contra School District invites the public to its Special Education Resource and Transition Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 28 at Vista Hills Education Center, 2625 Barnard St. in Richmond. The event is a chance for families to learn about special needs support and services in the community and for life after leaving high school

Along with entertainment and raffle prizes, the free event will feature presentations by guest speakers and the opportunity to meet representatives from local agencies and network with other families.

Annual art show spotlights student works

The 47th annual West Contra Costa School District Student Art Show is on display at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave. in Richmond, as part of RAC’s spring exhibitions.

A special reception with students in the school district art show is set for 2 to 4 p.m. May 12. The exhibitions run through June 2.

El Cerrito is participating in the National Citizen Survey and has mailed a five-page questionnaire on the quality and usefulness of city services to 1,200 households. The survey covers eight categories: Quality of life, Environmental Sustainability, Community Inclusiveness, Community Design, Recreation and Wellness, Civic Engagement, Public Safety and Public Trust.

Households that received the survey are encouraged to take time to answer and return the forms.

Results will be compiled in a final report “that city officials can use to guide future budget and policy decisions” and used as a basis of comparison with some 500 jurisdictions nationally.

Library friends book sale event is April 28

Get bargain literature at for children and adults at the Spring Book Sale hosted by the Friends of the El Cerrito Public Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 28. All items, including cookbooks and children’s books, will be priced at 50 cents. Donations of books, CDs and DVDs are being accepted by the friends group and can be left at the branch during open hours. Proceeds benefit library programs. Details: www.friendselcerritolibrary.wordpress.com or 510-526-7512.

Community Street Play event is on Sunday

El Cerrito has rescheduled its outdoor “Street Play” event for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 29 at the intersection of Key Boulevard and Conlon Avenue. The event is billed as “B.Y.O.F. (bring-your-own-fun).”

The roadway will be closed to traffic for outdoor recreation, games, picnicking and any other wholesome activities the community wants to hold. Expect some live entertainment as well.

Threatening weather the weekend of March 25 forced the postponement of the event until now.

Author Maggie Koerth-baker will talk about electricity, infrastructure, and the future of energy at an appearance at 7 p.m. May 3 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in El Cerrito Plaza. Koerth-baker is the author of “Before the Lights Go Out: Conquering the Energy Crisis Before it Conquers Us” and the science editor for BoingBoing.net.

Details: 510-524-0087.

She will also appear at 6 p.m. May 2 as part of the spring seminar hosted by the Berkeley Science Review at 106 Stanley Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. To RSVP for that event visit http://on.fb.me/IAdqJH.

Arts & Green Festival returns on May 6

Live music, food, children’s art activities and more will be at the Albany Arts & Green Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 6 at Memorial Park, 1325 Portland Ave. in. Artists booths will a variety of creations on display. and other booths will have information on “environmental and green action groups, workshops, and all the things you can do to make Albany an even greener city.”

Three women have told the New York Times that music mogul Russell Simmons raped them, the latest in a cascade of serious allegations of sexual misconduct against powerful men in entertainment, media, politics and elsewhere.